Motor driven fishing reel

ABSTRACT

A variable speed motor driven fishing reel is powered by a brushless DC motor and adapted for remote control operation by adapting a salt water bait-casting reel with a motorized drive assembly including an end plate having an environmentally sealed cover removably connected thereto, and mounted on the opposite side of the reel from the manual crank, the drive assembly including a brushless DC out-runner motor having an output shaft connected to a planetary gear system configured to power rotation of the fishing reel spool axel for driving the spool. A power cable provides 12.0 volt DC power from a suitable on-board vessel power source. An electronic motor control system allows for variation of DC motor speed via a manually actuated speed control knob. A remote control device is adapted for wireless communication with the electronic motor control system to allow for remote activation of the DC motor in low and high speed modes.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional U.S. PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/538,190, filed on Sep. 23, 2011.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

N/A

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Officepatent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights rightswhatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to fishing reels, and particularly tomotorized electrically power driven fishing reels used in sport fishing.

2. Description of Related Art

Fishing is a popular sport, hobby, and commercial venture around theworld. Modern fishing typically involves the use of a rod, reel andtackle. As is well known, a fishing reel is typically connected to thefishing pole, and includes a spool to allow for fishing line to be drawnout and reeled in. There are a wide variety of fishing reels including,bait-casting reels, spinning reels, spin casting reels, and saltwaterconventional and casting reels.

Sport fishing for game fish, such as sword fish, often involves “deepdrop” techniques that use heavy test (65.0 0 80.0 lb. test) and/orbraided fishing line dispensed to significantly deep depths, typicallydepths of 1800 feet or more. In such situations, the length of linedispensed from the reel renders manual retrieval a time consuming andlaborious process.

As a result, the prior art reveals advancements in fishing reel designdirected to providing fishing reels adapted with power assisted winding.For example, U.S. Pat. No. 902,447, issued to Piper in 1908, disclose afishing pole having an electrically operated winding reel. Various otherearly power assisted fishing reels are disclosed in the followingreferences: U.S. Pat. No. 1,005,015, issued to French (1911); U.S. Pat.No. 2,190,398, issued to Bugatti (1937); U.S. Pat. No. 2,714,271, issuedto Stratton (1955); and U.S. Pat. No. 2,760,736, issued to Mihalko(1956). U.S. Pat. No. 3,922,808, issued to Rieth et al. (1975),discloses a trolling reel capable of automatically positioning the end aline at a desired distance or depth. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,021,003,issued to Watkins (1977) and others disclose powered reels that retainthe ability to manually reel in the line. U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,147,issued to Kaneko (1993), discloses a fishing reel with a computer linelength and display that determines the unwound length of fishing linebased on the number of spool revolutions. Further, U.S. Pat. No.7,175,120, to Ono (2007), and U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,334,749 and 7,398,939,issued to Terauchi et al. (2008) disclose electric fishing reelspatented by Diawa Seiko, Inc.

While the above-referenced disclosures reveal limited advancements inthe art of motor driven fishing reels there exists a need for furtheradvancements in the art. More particularly, a number of the prior artdisclosures rely on conventional brushed DC electric motors to providethe driving force for the reel. Brushed DC electric motors have metallicbrushes that are highly susceptible to corrosion related failure,particularly when used in harsh salt water environments. An additionallimitation common in the prior art systems is the limitation of havingbut a single, relatively slow speed. Yet another limitation present inthe art relates to the lack of remote control actuation. Accordingly,there exists a need for advancements in the art of motor driven fishingreels.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages present in the art byproviding a motor driven fishing reel powered by a variable speedbrushless electric DC motor and adapted for remote control operation. Inaccordance with a preferred embodiment, a salt water bait-casting reelis adapted with a motorized drive assembly including an end plate havingan environmentally sealed cover removably connected thereto, and mountedon the opposite side of the reel from the manual crank. Housed withinthe cover is a motorized drive assembly including a brushless DC motorhaving an output shaft connected to a planetary gear system configuredto power rotation of the fishing reel spool axel for driving the spool.A power cable provides 12.0 volt DC power from a suitable on-boardvessel power source. An electronic motor control system allows forvariation of DC motor speed via a manually actuated speed control knob.A remote control device is adapted for wireless communication with theelectronic motor control system to allow for remote activation of the DCmotor in low and high speed modes. The fishing reel may further beadapted to include a level winding system to ensure that the line isevenly wound on the spool. The level wind system may incorporate adigital display for displaying the length of line that has been cast.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved motor driven fishing reel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a motor drivenfishing reel having improved corrosion resistance.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a motor drivenfishing reel capable of operating at variable speeds.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a motordriven fishing reel adapted with wireless communications to allow forremote operation thereof.

In accordance with these and other objects, which will become apparenthereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particularreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a motor driven fishing reel inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a left hand side view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a right hand side view thereof;

FIG. 5 depicts the electric motor and motor controls for a motor drivenfishing reel in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view thereof;

FIG. 7 depicts an interior view at the left hand end of the reel;

FIG. 8 depicts the spool axel drive gear and anti-reverse gear;

FIG. 9 illustrated removal of the spool drive gear;

FIG. 10 depicts the clutch connected to the spool drive gear in explodedrelation with the spool;

FIG. 11 depicts the right hand end of the spool axel;

FIG. 12 depicts high and low speed gears connected to the manual windingcrank;

FIG. 13 depicts a detailed right hand side view of the reel;

FIG. 14 is an electrical schematic block diagram illustratingelectro-mechanical control architecture for a motor-driven fishing reelin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a partial front perspective view of a motor driven fishingreel in accordance with the present invention further adapted with anoptional level winding accessory;

FIG. 16 is a partial right side perspective view thereof; and

FIG. 17 is a partial top front view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-17 depict a preferredembodiment and alternate embodiment of a variable speed motor-drivenfishing reel, generally referenced as 10, in accordance with the presentinvention. Turning first to FIGS. 1-14, a motor driven fishing reel 10includes an otherwise conventional salt water bait-casting reel 12having a main body 13 having opposing first and second (e.g. right-handand left-hand) sides, referenced as 13A and 13B. A line spool 14 isrotatably mounted to main body 13 via a spool axel 14A, and configuredfor manual actuation by a hand crank 16 disposed on the first side 13Aof main body 13. Main body 13 is adapted with a motorized driveassembly, generally referenced as 20 attached to the second side of mainbody 13, namely the side opposite of the crank 16. While the preferredembodiment discloses crank 16 disposed on the first (right-hand) sideand motorized drive assembly 20 disposed on the second (left-hand) side,as is customary for right handed users, it should be apparent the crank16 and motorized drive assembly may be oppositely mounted forleft-handed users.

A significant aspect of the present invention involves adapting the baitcasting reel 12 with a motorized drive assembly, generally referenced as20, housing an electric motor and associated controls as more fullydiscussed herein. As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, motorized driveassembly 20 includes an end plate 22 sized and adapted for matingattachment to the left-hand side 13A of main body 13, opposite of theright-hand side 13B and manual hand crank 16. As should be apparent,however, crank 16 and motorized drive assembly 20 may be alternatelymounted on either side of main body 13. A cover 24 is removablyconnected to end plate 22 and an environmental seal is provided by anO-ring gasket 26 disposed circumferentially on end plate 22.

Motorized drive assembly 20 includes an electric motor, generallyreferenced as 30, mounted to endplate 22. In a preferred embodiment,motor 30 comprises a brushless DC motor, that operates on 12.0 voltdirect current (12.0 VDC) and consumes approximately 1,400 Watts ofelectrical power. DC power from a suitable on-vessel power source isprovided to motorized drive assembly via power cable 21. A significantaspect of the present invention involves the use of a brushlessout-runner motor thereby avoiding the use of brushes that have led tocorrosion related premature failure in prior art devices. Motor 30 hasan output shaft connected to a system of intermeshing gears including afirst gear 32, a second gear 34. Gear 34 is attached to a clutch 36 thattransfers power to line spool 14. Clutch 34 is an integral part of thedrag system on the off-the-shelf manually actuated reel. In accordancewith the present invention, the clutch is modified by adding gear 34 toclutch 36 thereby converting the clutch assembly into a system capableof transferring power to the reel. A clutch actuation lever 38 iscoupled to a cam mechanism (not shown) to allow the user to adjust thecontact pressure between clutch 36 and spool 14 thereby providingadjustable drag settings. As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, ananti-reverse mechanism includes a toothed wheel 40 attached to gear 34,and pivotally connected pawls 42 that ride along the edge of toothedwheel 40 to prevent reverse rotation of spool 14 when engaged. Thepreferred embodiment of the present invention has demonstratedsignificant performance advances over the prior art. More particularly,the motor driven fishing reel in accordance with the present inventionis capable of reeling in fishing line at a rate of approximately 500feet-per-minute.

Motorized drive assembly 20 further includes electronics and controlsthat allow for speed control and wireless remote actuation. Moreparticularly, motorized drive assembly includes a manually actuatedspeed control knob 25 projects from cover 24. Speed control knob 25 isconnected to a potentiometer to allow for adjustment of the inputvoltage to motor 30 between minimum and maximum settings to allow theuser to selectively adjust motor speed, and hence reel winding speed. Asseen in FIGS. 5 and 6, motorized drive assembly further includes acircuit board 41 containing a radio frequency (RF) receiver 44 and apair of RF activated solenoids 42, a microprocessor 46, and a motorspeed controller 48.

FIG. 13 is an electrical control block diagram for the electricalcontrol system for the motor driven fishing reel in accordance with thepresent invention. The electrical control system includes a speedcontrol potentiometer 40 functions to allow for speed variation viadirect user input by manual actuation of speed control knob 25 (notshown in FIG. 13). Speed control potentiometer 40 functions to provide aspeed control signal to microprocessor 46, which is in electricalcommunication with a motor speed controller 48. Microprocessor 46receives the speed control signal and generates an output signal tomotor speed controller 48 which uses that signal to controls the inputvoltage to motor 30. Using this control architecture, rotation of thecontrol knob (25) on speed control potentiometer 40 functions to varymotor/reel winding speed between a minimum value (i.e. full stop) and amaximum value (i.e. full speed).

A further significant aspect of the present invention involves providinga motor driven fishing reel 10, adapted for wireless remote controlledoperation. More particularly, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the controlarchitecture includes a radio frequency activated solenoid 42 responsiveto a control signal output from an RF receiver 44, which is adapted toreceive wireless transmissions from an RF transmitter 45. RF transmitter45 is preferably a small, portable, battery-powered FOB-type devicehaving manually actuated buttons 45A and 45B corresponding to low andhigh speed operation. Accordingly, the user can activate the motorizeddrive assembly from a remote location using RF transmitter 45 to send asignal to RF receiver 44, which in turn activates solenoid 42. In apreferred embodiment, RF activation of solenoid 42 functions to causemotor 30 to operate at full speed, however, any suitable speed isconsidered within the scope of the present invention.

Finally, the present invention includes means for disengaging reel crank16 from spool 14 to prevent crank 16 from rotating in unison with therapidly rotating spool 14 when in a powered winding mode so as toprevent crank 16 from inducing excessive vibration while winding inline. In accordance with this aspect of the present invention, themanual winding mechanism is modified. More particularly, the reeltypically includes a system of gears that function to allows for manuallow and high speed winding settings as illustrated in FIGS. 11-13.Manual rotation of crank 16 functions to rotate a crank axel 50 havinglow and high speed gears, referenced as 52 and 54 mounted thereto. Auser actuated manual speed selection switch 17 is disposed on the reeland/or crank and functions to allow the user to manually select low andhigh speeds by selective engagement one of low and high speed gears 52and 54 with mating gears 56 and 58 mounted to the axel 14A of spool 14.In accordance with the present invention, the teeth of gear 56 areground off as shown in FIG. 11. This allows the manual crank 16 to freewheel when speed selection switch 17 is configured to the high speedsetting. The winding mechanism could alternately be configured with thethreads removed from gear 58 within the spirit of the invention.

FIGS. 15-17 depict a motor driven fishing reel 10 adapted with anoptional level winding accessory, generally referenced as 100. Levelwinding accessory 100, is preferably mounted to the right hand side ofreel 10 and includes a main body 102 having a mounting flange 104 whichreceives a fastener 106 to affix accessory 100 to reel 10 as best seenin FIG. 15. Level winding accessory further includes a traversingcarriage 110 that traverses back and forth between the opposing left andright hand portions of the spool by riding along a guide rail 112 and across-cut reversing lead screw 114. Carriage 110 further includes a pairof projecting line guides, referenced as 116 and 118 that function toguide the winding of the line generally evenly onto the rotating reelspool as carriage 110 traverses back and forth. Level winding accessory100 further includes a digital display 120 and associatedelectro-mechanical elements that function to track and display thelength of line that has been spooled out. Digital display 120 thusallows the user to precisely determine the length of line cast and/orlength of line remaining while winding in.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what isconsidered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It isrecognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within thescope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to aperson skilled in the art.

What I claim is:
 1. A motor driven fishing reel comprising: a main bodyhaving opposing sides; a fishing line spool rotatably mounted to saidmain body via a spool axel; a hand crank mechanically coupled to saidspool axel on one of said main body sides to allow for manual rotationof said spool; a motorized drive assembly affixed to said opposing oneof said main body sides; said motorized drive assembly including an endplate sized and adapted for mating attachment to said main body; abrushless DC motor attached to said end plate, said motor having anoutput shaft with a first gear attached thereto; a clutch having asecond gear attached thereto, said second gear disposed in intermeshingrelation with said first gear, said clutch configured to transfer powerfrom said motor to said spool; a clutch actuation lever coupled to saidclutch to allow for adjustment of the contact pressure between saidclutch and said spool thereby providing adjustable drag settings; meansfor disengaging said hand crank from said spool axel to allow said handcrank to freely rotate thereby preventing said crank from rotating inunison with said spool when said spool is rotating in a powered windingmode so as to prevent said crank from inducing vibration; an electricalcontrol system to allow for user variation of the speed or said motorthereby allowing for user regulation of spool winding speed, saidelectrical control system having an electrical input in communicationwith a DC power source, and an electrical output in communication withsaid motor, said electrical control system including a manually actuatedspeed control potentiometer to allow for speed variation via direct userinput by manual actuation of speed control knob, said speed controlpotentiometer providing an a speed control signal to a microprocessorhaving an electrical output in electrical communication with a motorspeed controller, said motor speed controller responsive the output fromsaid microprocessor so as to vary the input voltage to said motorwhereby said motor speed is adjustable between a full stop and maximumspeed.
 2. The motor driven fishing reel according to claim 1, furtherincluding means for wireless remote controlled actuation thereof.
 3. Themotor driven fishing reel according to claim 2, wherein said means forwireless remote controlled actuation includes a radio frequencyactivated solenoid responsive to a control signal output from an RFreceiver, and a portable RF transmitter adapted send RF transmissions tosaid RF receiver, said radio frequency activated solenoid actuating saidmotor to a full speed setting in response to said control signal.
 4. Ina fishing reel having a main body with opposing sides, a fishing linespool rotatably mounted to said main body via a spool axel, a hand crankdisposed on one of said sides and mechanically coupled to said spoolaxel to allow for manual rotation of said spool, said mechanical coupleincluding a high-speed gear and a low-speed gear and means for userselective engagement of one of said sets of gears, said fishing reelfurther including a drag system having a clutch disposed on the oppositeside of the main body relative to said hand crank, and a clutchactuation lever coupled to said clutch to allow for adjustment of thecontact pressure between said clutch and said spool thereby providingadjustable drag settings said improvement comprising: a motorized driveassembly affixed to the main body on the opposite side thereof from saidhand crank; said motorized drive assembly including an end plate sizedand adapted for mating attachment to said main body and a coverremovably attached to said end plate for forming a water resistantenclosure; a brushless DC motor attached to said end plate, said motorhaving an output shaft with a first gear attached thereto; modifyingsaid clutch to include a second gear attached thereto, said second geardisposed in intermeshing relation with said first gear, said clutchconfigured to transfer power from said motor to said spool; means fordisengaging said hand crank from said spool axel to allow said handcrank to freely rotate thereby preventing said crank from rotating inunison with said spool when said spool is rotating in a powered windingmode so as to prevent said crank from inducing vibration by grindingdown either one of said high-speed gear or said low-speed gear; anelectrical control system to allow for user variation of the speed orsaid motor thereby allowing for user regulation of spool winding speed,said electrical control system having an electrical input incommunication with a DC power source, and an electrical output incommunication with said motor, said electrical control system includinga manually actuated speed control potentiometer to allow for speedvariation via direct user input by manual actuation of speed controlknob, said speed control potentiometer providing an a speed controlsignal to a microprocessor having an electrical output in electricalcommunication with a motor speed controller, said motor speed controllerresponsive the output from said microprocessor so as to vary the inputvoltage to said motor whereby said motor speed is adjustable between afull stop and maximum speed.
 5. The motor driven fishing reel accordingto claim 4, further including means for wireless remote controlledactuation thereof.
 6. The motor driven fishing reel according to claim5, wherein said means for wireless remote controlled actuation includesa radio frequency activated solenoid responsive to a control signaloutput from an RF receiver, and a portable RF transmitter adapted sendRF transmissions to said RF receiver, said radio frequency activatedsolenoid actuating said motor to a full speed setting in response tosaid control signal.